Thank you so much, Chair. I always trust you to manage the time allocated to all Committee members.
Today's meeting is rather special, as we are joined by Mr. Hayes and visited by other members who don't normally attend this Committee. It's always an opportunity for MPs from all parties to better understand how things work at the Office of the Auditor General.
I welcome Mr. Hayes. We understand that, normally, you can't talk about the process or the intentions of an audit until the audit report is tabled; otherwise it will colour the results and nature of the investigation with which the Office of the Auditor General is tasked. As Canadians, we trust and know that these audits are conducted in a neutral, objective and factual manner.
I'm grateful for the testimony we've heard today. I'd like to give Mr. Hayes the opportunity to summarize what he's said today, and to reassure Canadians that they can have confidence in this process. This one was initiated by the Office of the Auditor General, and I'm grateful for that, but I would point out that the department, too, has committed to conducting its own investigations.